Spray nozzle



11W 5. L. TROY SPRAY NOZZLE Filed March 6, 196'? 2 Shee'ts$heet 1ENVENTOR S'V/woue L 7 ay BY A V M & m; Q

ATTORNEYS Jam, 6, R97@ 5 TROY fifi SPRAY NOZZLE Filed March =T. 196T 2Sheets-Sheet 2 IINVIENTOR sex Mame A. r/em ATTORNEYS United StatesPatent 3,487,828 SPRAY NOZZLE Seymour L. Troy, Mount Vernon, N.Y.,assignor to A. J. Armstrong Co., Inc., a corporation of New York FiledMar. 6, 1967, Ser. No. 620,912 Int. Cl. A61h 9/00; A61m 3/00 US. Cl.12866 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONField of the invention This invention relates to a new and improvedspray nozzle for use with oral hygiene appliances of the type whichproduce a stream of liquid to be directed against the teeth and gums forcleansing and massaging.

Description of the prior art Oral lavage appliances of the typementioned above may produce either a steady stream of liquid or apulsating stream of liquid in which the pulsations are of variablefrequency and kinetic energy to aid in cleansing the teeth and massagingthe gums. The steady of pulsating stream of liquid is directed through aspray nozzle and spray nozzle tip which must be inserted into the mouthso that all parts of the teeth and gums may be sprayed. Spray nozzlespresently used with such appliances are tapered to a reduced diameter atthe tip or have sharp edges which may irritate ar scratch tender gumswhen inserted into the mouth.

Spray nozzles presently used also produce a single concentratedhigh-speed jet of liquid which massages the gums and dislodges foodparticles, but which does not cover a suflicient area to effectivelyflotation cleanse the mouth of particles so dislodged.

Furthermore, the spray emerging from spray nozzle tips presently usedwith oral lavage appliances is subject to minor mechanical variations inthe operation of the liquid pump and drive motor. In addition, with orallavage appliances of the type which produce a pulsating stream, presentspray nozzles produce air pockets between pulses resulting in erraticperformance and sharp peaks.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of this invention to provide animproved spray nozzle tip which produces in addition to a concentratedhigh-energy jet of liquid, a broad low-energy fan stream surrounding thecentral jet stream to provide flotation cleansing over a broad area ofthe mouth to effectively remove particles dislodged by the concentratedjet stream.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved spray nozzlewith spray stability by providing a pre-loaded liquid head at the spraynozzle tip.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a spray nozzle whosetip is set at a convenient angle and formed with a rounded head so thatwhen the nozzle is held by the hand in a relaxed position the liquid jetwill 3,487,828 Patented Jan. 6, 1970 be directed at the teeth and gumswith no danger of scratching or irritating tender or ailing gums.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a spray nozzle for usewith oral lavage appliances in conjunction with a toothbrush.

In order to accomplish these results my invention contemplates theprovision of a spray nozzle comprising an elongated annular tube havingtherein a liquid channel terminating in a cavity at one end of the tubeand having an outlet of reduced diameter leading from the cavity of theatmosphere flared at its outer end to thereby provide in addition to aconcentrated jet stream of liquid, a surrounding diifuse fan stream ofliquid when liquid is pumped through the liquid channel. Another aspectof my invention contemplates the provision of a toothbrush inconjunction with the spray nozzle, secured at the spray nozzle tip.

Brief description of the drawings In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is an environmental view of a spray nozzle embodying my inventionin which the spray nozzle is shown in use with accessories of an oralhygiene appliance.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional side elevational view of the spray nozzletip illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the spray nozzle tip illustrated inFIG. 2, along the line 3-3 in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 4 is a side elevation cross-sectional view of another embodiment ofmy invention in which a toothbrush is provided in conjunction with aspray nozzle similar to the one illustrated in FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of the spray nozzle and toothbrushassembly illustrated in FIG. 4, looking down on the bristles.

FIG. 6 is a top elevation view of the spray nozzle and toothbrushassembly illustrated in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a partially cross-sectional side elevation view of anotherspray nozzle and toothbrush assembly similar to the one illustrated inFIG. 4.

Description of the preferred embodiment In the embodiment of myinvention illustrated in FIG. 1, I provide an elongated tube 1terminating at its outlet end in a rounded tip 2, and terminating at itsinlet end in a coupling 3 adapted to be inserted into and held inwater-tight relationship by the complementary coupling in an accessoryof an oral hygiene appliance, which complementary coupling forms theliquid discharge outlet 30 of the oral hygiene appliance. I also providea hand grip 4 to facilitate handling the nozzle during use.

The oral hygiene appliance to which the spray nozzle is coupled mayproduce a steady stream of liquid or it may produce a pulsating streamof liquid in which the pulsations are of a variable frequency andkinetic energy. The spray nozzle of the present invention has beensuccessfully used with the oral hygiene appliance produced by TroyIndustries, Tuckahoe, N.Y., under the trademark Dent-O-Pick. The liquiddischarge accessories of an oral hygiene appliance ll of this type aredrawn in phantom in the environmental illustration of FIG. 1.

Referring more particularly to the spray nozzle tip as illustrated inFIG, 2, the liquid channel 5 of the spray nozzle tube 1 terminates in acavity 6 at the spray nozzle tip 2. The cavity 6 is formed by a bend 12in the spray nozzle tube 1 near the end of the spray nozzle tube. Theangle of the bend should be such that when the spray nozzle is held inthe hand at a comfortable position the stream of liquid from the tip ofthe nozzle will be directed towards the gums and teeth. An angle ofapproximately to 130 has been found satisfactory, and approximately topreferable.

The dimension of the inner diameter of the liquid channel 5 in the spraynozzle tube is preferably reduced at the bend as illustrated in FIG. 3,thereby producing the reservior 6. If the spray nozzle were constructedwithout such a bend, the desired reservoir might be produced by arestriction in the liquid channel at a point near the tip. As anexample, if the outer diameter of the annular tube of the spray nozzleis of the order of .187 inch, and the inner diameter of the liquidchannel in the annular tube is of the order of .070 inch, then the innerdiameter may be as small as .050 inch or .060 inch at the bend orrestriction.

When the spray nozzle is used in conjunction with an oral lavageappliance which produces a pulsating stream of liquid, the reservoir orcavity 6 prevents run back of the liquid between pulses. Run back of theliquid may create undersirable air pockets in the liquid so that thepulsating stream is erratic, with sharp peaks. On the other hand thereservoir of liquid in the present invention produces a uniformlypulsating stream, To this end, the reservoir should have a volume atleast equal to the volume of water displaced during one cycle orpulsation by an oral lavage appliance pump. That is, the reservoirshould have a volume at least equal to the volume of water dischargedthrough the tip during each pulsation.

Furthermore, the pre-loaded liquid head in the reservoir dampens theeffect of minor variations in the operation of the pump and drivingmotor of the oral lavage appliance on the stream of liquid sprayed fromthe nozzle tip.

Leading from the cavity 6 is the spray nozzle tip outlet 7 of reduceddiameter. The outlet 7 is flared at the outer surface of the spraynozzle tip to form a diverging mouth 8. The relative dimensions of thespray nozzle tip are illustrated in FIG. 3 which is a cross-sectionalview of the spray nozzle tip through the cavity 6. Thus, the outlet 7 ofreduced diameter from reservoir or cavity 6 and the flared mouth 8 ofthe outlet are shown. As an example, if the inner diameter of the outletof reduced diameter is of the order of .025 inch and the inner diameterof the reservoir or cavity is of the order of .070 inch, then thediameter of the flared portion of the outlet at the surface of thenozzle tip may be as wide as .065 or .070 inch.

When using the spray nozzle in conjunction with an oral hygieneappliance, liquid at least equal in volume to or in excess of what maybe displaced from the spray nozzle outlet during one pulsation, ispumped into the cavity 6 to provide a reservoir of liquid under pressurewhich acts as a stabilizer when producing a pulsating stream of liquidor in the event of minor variations in the operation of the pump and itsdriving motor when producing either a pulsating or steady stream therebyproviding stability in the steady or pulsating liquid jet propelled fromthe spray nozzle outlet.

Liquid under pressure escaping through the outlet 7 of reduced diameterproduces a central high-energy liquid stream 9. When the liquid reachesthe flared portion 8 of the outlet 7, however, the sudden drop inpressure encountered by the outer annular layers of liquid causes theouter annular layers to flare outward to form a diffuse fan stream ofliquid surrounding the concentrated central liquid jet.

While the central concentrated liquid jet dislodges food particles andmassages the gums, the broader fan stream surrounding the central jetstream effectively irrigates wide areas of the mouth and removesdislodged particles by flotation cleansing. Turbulent movement of thevolume of water moved through thespray nozzle tip outlet furthereffectively cleanses the mouth and stimulates the gums.

In another form of my invention a toothbrush is provided in conjunctionwith the spray nozzle as illustrated in FIGS. 4-6. Within a toothbrushbase 13, tufts 14 of bristles are permanently held. The base 13 issecured to th l g ted t be 1. of the pray nq zl j s below h spray nozzletip 16. The spray nozzle is similar to the one illustrated in FIG. 2 andincludes a liquid channel 17, bend 18, reservoir 19, outlet 20, andflared mouth 21 at the discharge end of the outlet.

The base of the toothbrush and the annular tube of the spray nozzle maybe formed as a unitary piece from material such as plastic, or asseparate pieces secured together.

In the form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 4-6 the spray nozzletip projects in a direction parallel to the tufts of bristles, andperpendicular to the liquid channel in the elongated tube. In the formof the invention illustrated in FIG. 7, the spray nozzle and toothbrushare similar to that illustrated in FIGS. 4-6 except that the spraynozzle tip forms an angle of approximately with the liquid channel orapproximately 25 with the tufts of bristles. The elongated tube 22,liquid channel 23, reservoir 24, spray nozzle tip 25, outlet 26, flaredmouth 27, toothbrush base 28, and tufts 29 of bristles are formed in themanners described above.

Alternatively the elongated tube may be formed without a bend near thetip and the toothbrush secured adjacent the outlet. In such a case theliquid channel may terminate in an outlet along the side of the tubenear the tip rather than at the tip itself.

In each case in which the spray nozzle is provided with a toothbrush thebristles may be formed of a material having antifrictional nonstickreleasing properties such as polytetrafluoroethylene or otherfluorinated organic polymers so that they may be readily cleaned inwater.

In using the spray nozzle and toothbrush assembly, the spray and brushmay be used simultaneously or the teeth may be first brushed andsubsequently the teeth and gums subjected to the spray.

What I claim is:

1. An improved spray nozzle for use in conjunction with an oral lavageappliance of the type that produces a pulsating stream of liquidcomprising an elongated tube having therein a liquid channel terminatingat one end of the tube in an outlet and providing at the opposite end ofthe tube an inlet to the liquid channel, said tube being bent near theoutlet end thereof and the diameter of said tube necking down at saidbend and thereafter flaring out to form a cavity of predetermined volumeno smaller than the volume of liquid discharged in one pulsation of thespray nozzle disposed within said channel between said bend and saidoutlet end, said outlet having a diameter smaller than the diameter ofthe liquid channel and said outlet also being outwardly flared to agreater diameter at its discharge end to thereby provide in addition toa concentrated jet stream of liquid, a surrounding diffuse fan stream ofliquid when liquid is pumped through the liquid channel.

2. A spray nozzle as set forth in claim 1 wherein there is provided ahand grip around the elongated tube near the inlet end of said tube.

3'. A spray nozzle as set forth in claim 1 wherein the bend in theelongated tube provides an angle of approximately between 90 and betweenthe portions of the elongated tube adjacent the bend.

4. An improved spray nozzle as set forth in claim 1 wherein theelongated tube terminates at the inlet to the liquid channel in acoupling adapted to be inserted in and held in water-tight relationshipby the complementary coupling in the liquid discharge accessory of anoral lavage appliance.

5'.'In combination, a spray nozzle and tooth brush assembly for use inconjunction with an oral lavage appliance of the type that produces apulsating stream of liquid comprising an elongated tube having therein aliquid channel terminating at one end of the tube in an outlet andproviding at the opposite end of the tube an inlet to the channel, saidtube being bent near the outlet end thereof and the diameter of saidtube necking d wn at sa d bend a d h eaf er flar g out o form a cavityof predetermined volume no smaller than the volume of liquid dischargedin one pulsation of the spray nozzle disposed within said channelbetween said bend and said outlet end, said outlet having a diametersmaller than the diameter of the liquid channel and said outlet alsobeing outwardly flared to a greater diameter at its discharge end tothereby provide in addition to a concentrated jet stream of liquid asurrounding diffuse fan stream of liquid when liquid is pumped throughthe liquid channel, and the toothbrush being formed of a base with tuftsof bristles held therein, said base being secured to the elongatedannular tube of the spray nozzle adjacent the spray nozzle outlet.

6. A spray nozzle and toothbrush assembly as set forth in claim 5wherein the bend in the elongated tube provides an angle ofapproximately between 90 and 130 between the portions of said tubeadjacent the bend.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 6 Mortka.

Heimburger 239-489 X Hammon 239589 Guinness.

Montague et a1 40122 Brenner 239--601 Drapen et a]. Mattingly.

Brown 239-60l X FOREIGN PATENTS Germany.

" EUGENE R. CAPOZQIO, Primary Examiner HARLAND S. SKOGQUIST, AssistantExaminer US. Cl. X.R.

